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As Latin America attempts to climb out of a two year long recession, Peru has emerged as a bright spot in the region – based on air passenger growth and the country’s economic performance. For the seven months ending Jul-2016 Peru recorded 9% passenger growth to 11.2 million, driven by growth of 10.2% in the country’s domestic market.

Peru’s air passenger growth continues to remain promising, as the country’s largest airline – LATAM Airlines Peru – calculates that the country’s trips per capita are slightly below the still-emerging markets of Mexico, Colombia and Brazil, whose passenger growth potential should remain robust once the country’s economy begins to fully recover.

Periodically speculation arises over the potential opportunity for a low cost airline to break into Peru’s market. The country’s growth prospects certainly warrant examination of stimulative opportunities in Peru, but so far the country lacks a true low cost airline.

Kazakhstan’s Air Astana is increasing its focus on sixth freedom transit traffic as part of a new strategy aimed at capitalising on its low cost structure and geographic position at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. More transit traffic is necessary to unlock a new phase of growth and reduce its reliance on its home market.

Air Astana has nearly doubled its transit traffic over the past year in response to challenging market conditions in Kazakhstan. The Kazakhstan economy has weakened significantly as oil prices have collapsed, leading to rapid currency devaluation that has impacted Air Astana’s top line. The airline’s revenues have fallen 25% since 2013 while passenger traffic has been relatively flat.

Increased sixth freedom traffic, slower expansion and reduced costs have enabled the airline to maintain profitability. A further and bigger transit traffic push is risky but should drive improved scale, a resumption of growth, and a stronger long-term position – which in turn will make Air Astana more attractive as it revisits long-delayed IPO plans.